Midtown Tennis Club’s Round-Robin Parties: A Tennis Social

Nov 6, 2018

| By New York Tennis Magazine Staff

Deciding what to do on a Friday night is always a difficult dilemma, especially if you are someone who is just looking to play some tennis while enjoying good company. Well, if you ever are searching for a fun tennis activity to take part in on Friday nights, look no further than the weekly Round Robin Parties held at Midtown Tennis Club.

The Parties are held each Friday night and are open to any players with a 3.5 Rating or higher.

“It’s a great way for people who don’t have anyone to play with to get into the action,” said Jen Brown, General Manager of Midtown Tennis Club.

The Parties are run by Steve Grill, who has been organizing and running the events for more than 40 years now. The night consists of round-robin play, with more of an emphasis on fun than competition, with drinks and snacks served all evening long.

“They really have become one of the fixtures of the Club,” said Grill. “We have been doing them for over 40 years now. At one point, we tried holding them on Saturday’s but Friday evenings really became the set day for the event. We have people who have been coming for a long time, very loyal people. There is a strong nucleus of people, I’d say around 50-60 percent of the attendees of the Party, who always come back.”

The arrangement of the Party is great for any type of player who wants to play some tennis on a Friday night, while also being able to socialize and hang out. In fact, there is even one couple who met for the first time at one of these Parties, and who now have a child who participates in programs at Midtown.

“The whole idea started over 40 years ago as a way to try and utilize the times when the courts go unused, like on Friday evenings,” said Grill. “The idea of a Party seemed to be the best way. It’s a very good arrangement, because instead of having to look for a match or book a court time, you just make your reservation, walk in and you get to play for three hours.”